Results 25,881-25,900 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath
- Recent Developments in the Eurozone: Statements (5 Oct 2011)
Michael McGrath: This issue is coming to a head very quickly because Greece will run out of cash by mid-November. What is the Government's position? What does the Minister advocate on behalf of the Government when he sits around a table in Europe to discuss Greece? Can Greece be allowed to fail? Should it get the next tranche of money no matter what, or only if it meets the targets set out in the first...
- Recent Developments in the Eurozone: Statements (5 Oct 2011)
Michael McGrath: What if it does not do that? The Greeks will run out of money.
- Recent Developments in the Eurozone: Statements (5 Oct 2011)
Michael McGrath: You could interpret that as meaning it is for the parties to appoint their spokespersons.
- Recent Developments in the Eurozone: Statements (5 Oct 2011)
Michael McGrath: Can we change it?
- Recent Developments in the Eurozone: Statements (5 Oct 2011)
Michael McGrath: Is it open to the Government to propose an amendment to allow-----
- Recent Developments in the Eurozone: Statements (5 Oct 2011)
Michael McGrath: I am pleased to have an opportunity to make a contribution to this important debate on the eurozone debt crisis. The most disappointing aspect of how the debt crisis has been handled in Europe thus far has been the sense of drift that has been allowed to develop. The handling of the crisis has been characterised by a lack of clarity, by uncertainty and by indecision. Moreover, the...
- Deficit Targets (5 Oct 2011)
Michael McGrath: I thank the Minister. Has a final date been set for the publication of the pre-budget outlook and the multi-year plan? Will the Minister clarify whether it is a plan to the end of 2015, which appears logical given that the 3% target has now been linked to 2015 rather than 2014? Will he publish a new four-year plan or a three-year one? Is it the Minister's view that we should aim to achieve...
- Deficit Targets (5 Oct 2011)
Michael McGrath: Can the Minister give the House a date for the publication of the pre-budget outlook and the new plan? Is it a four-year plan to the end of 2015?
- Public Investment Projects (5 Oct 2011)
Michael McGrath: Last Thursday's press release raises more questions than answers. Many of the functions NewERA is taking on are already performed quite well by the semi-State companies concerned. Requirements for corporate governance and reporting to the relevant Ministers are already in place and a number of them are already successfully implementing ambitious capital investment plans. It is difficult to...
- Public Investment Projects (5 Oct 2011)
Michael McGrath: Will the Minister clarify whether the strategic investment fund can begin to identify appropriate investment projects once the legislation has been enacted allowing it to access what is left in the National Pensions Reserve Fund, NPRF, or does it have to await until mid-2012 when the holding company is set up for NewERA? Essentially, when does the Minister expect the fund will be up and...
- Fiscal Policy (5 Oct 2011)
Michael McGrath: What I want to know, and what people would like an assurance on, is that the Department and the authorities do contingency planning on an ongoing basis on all possible eventualities in the eurozone crisis, including a Greek default and a Greek exit from the euro.
- Fiscal Policy (5 Oct 2011)
Michael McGrath: It would not be helpful for us to go into any more detail, except to ask the Minister for an assurance that the Department looks at all eventualities and plans accordingly.
- EU Directives (5 Oct 2011)
Michael McGrath: I thank the Minister. He has touched on the key point in his response, that is, that any such tax would have to apply on a global basis otherwise it will only serve to disadvantage the countries in the eurozone or, if it is applied across the 27 member states, the European Union. There was an excellent presentation this morning by Financial Services Ireland about its plans for the future....
- Fiscal Policy (5 Oct 2011)
Michael McGrath: Question 1: To ask the Minister for Finance the priority issues he intends to raise with the EU, ECB and IMF during their forthcoming mission review visit here with particular regard to the possible renegotiation of elements of the memorandum of understanding. [27800/11]
- Fiscal Policy (5 Oct 2011)
Michael McGrath: I thank the Minister for his reply in respect of next week's visit to Ireland by representatives from the troika. There are two issues I wish to raise, the first of which relates to how the proceeds from the sale of State assets will be used. As the Minister is aware, the Government negotiated a memorandum of understanding last April which stipulates that the proceeds from the sale of such...
- Fiscal Policy (5 Oct 2011)
Michael McGrath: That is not true.
- Fiscal Policy (5 Oct 2011)
Michael McGrath: We did not sign up to any ambitious programme.
- Fiscal Policy (5 Oct 2011)
Michael McGrath: The issue about which I inquired is relevant to Question No. 1.
- Fiscal Policy (5 Oct 2011)
Michael McGrath: It relates to the Government's commitments on income tax and social welfare. The memorandum of understanding clearly states the Government may come up with alternatives which would raise the same amount of money as any proposed tax increases or payment cuts. Is that matter a priority for the Government in the context of the agenda for next week's meeting? This supplementary question is...
- Fiscal Policy (5 Oct 2011)
Michael McGrath: Let us be clear on the sale of State assets, the original agreement reached last December committed the then Government to reviewing the McCarthy report with a view to setting targets for the possible privatisation of State-owned assets. In April this was upgraded when the Government committed to the phased privatisation of certain enterprises. In July the position was upgraded further when...